Developing a national Core Capabilities Framework and Career Pathway
Women’s health services are evolving rapidly, with growing recognition of the need for more consistent, high-quality, and equitable care. At the heart of this is the workforce; the skills, capabilities, and development pathways that enable professionals to deliver effective care across diverse settings.
This programme, commissioned by NHS England and delivered by Skills for Health, is focused on developing a Core Capabilities Framework, a Career Pathway Tool, and a set of Compatibility Modules to support workforce development across women’s health services.
The work is intended to provide a clear, practical foundation for capability development that is relevant across professions, roles, and care settings.
Why this work matters
Workforce development within women’s health has historically been shaped by local need rather than national consistency. As a result:
- Capability expectations are often interpreted differently across organisations and professions
- Progression pathways can lack clarity and transparency
- Opportunities for workforce mobility and development are uneven
- Services can experience variation in how care is delivered.
This programme aims to bring greater coherence to this landscape by establishing a shared reference point for capability and development – one that supports, rather than constrains, local workforce models.
What we are developing
The programme will deliver three core outputs:
Core Capabilities Framework
A nationally relevant framework describing the capabilities required to deliver women’s health services.
It will be structured around the four pillars of professional practice – clinical practice, leadership, education, and research and will include cross-cutting capabilities such as communication, cultural competence, and trauma-informed care.
Career Pathway Tool
A practical tool that translates capability into development pathways, supporting both vertical progression and movement across roles and settings.
It is intended to make development routes more transparent and accessible.
Compatibility Modules
Modular guidance linked to specific clinical skill areas, enabling organisations to align local workforce development and CPD activity with the wider Framework.
How the work is being developed
The programme is being delivered through an iterative, design-led approach, supported by:
- An Expert Reference Group comprising clinical, professional and workforce leaders
- Engagement with Royal Colleges, multiprofessional stakeholders and system partners
- Structured stakeholder input throughout development
- A formal consultation phase, where draft outputs will be shared more widely for feedback.
This approach ensures that the outputs are grounded in practice, clinically credible, and usable across different contexts.
Get involved
We are keen to ensure that this work reflects the realities of practice across women’s health services.
There will be an opportunity to take part in a formal consultation on the draft Framework and associated tools later in the programme. We anticipate this occurring in Summer 2026.
If you would like to be notified when the consultation opens, or to receive updates on progress, please register your interest below.